President Biden Extends Beach Vacation Despite Prior Commitment
President Joe Biden has been spotted relaxing on a Delaware beach, extending his time away from the White House despite previously pledging to finish his term strong.
According to The New York Post, the 81-year-old president was seen lounging on the North Shores near Rehoboth Beach, accompanied by First Lady Jill Biden and two of her sisters.
The president's beach outing comes as part of a prolonged absence from the Oval Office, lasting nearly 10 days.
This extended vacation follows Biden's appearance at the Democratic National Convention, where he delivered a speech on the opening night before departing for California and subsequently heading to his Delaware beach house.
President's Extended Absence From White House
Biden's current vacation began on August 19 when he left the White House to attend the Democratic National Convention in Chicago.
At the convention, he gave a speech on the first night, officially passing the torch to Vice President Kamala Harris as the party's nominee for the 2024 presidential election.
Instead of staying for the entire four-day event, Biden flew to Santa Ynez, California. There, he stayed at the $37 million estate of Joe Kiani, the CEO of medical technology company Masimo. This luxurious retreat raised eyebrows, given Biden's previous statements about finishing his term actively.
On Sunday, the president concluded his California stay and flew to Rehoboth Beach, Delaware. According to the White House schedule, he is expected to remain there until at least Friday, further extending his time away from Washington.
Biden's Low Profile Since Dropping Out
Since his surprising announcement on July 21 that he was withdrawing from the 2024 presidential race, Biden has maintained a noticeably low public profile.
Reports suggest that he has spent almost three-quarters of his time outside of Washington, including stays at Camp David, the presidential retreat in Maryland.
Speculation has arisen about the reasons behind Biden's reduced public appearances. Some suggest that he may be keeping a low profile due to frustration with fellow Democrats who turned against him, including former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.
In a recent interview with "CBS News Sunday Morning," Biden addressed these concerns, stating:
A number of my Democratic colleagues in the House and Senate thought that I was going to hurt them in the races. And I was concerned if I stayed in the race, that would be the topic — you'd be interviewing me about why did Nancy Pelosi say [something] … and I thought it'd be a real distraction.
Upcoming Campaign Events And Harris' Rising Profile
Despite his current vacation, Biden is scheduled to make a campaign appearance with Vice President Kamala Harris on Labor Day in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
This will mark their first joint campaign event since Harris became the party's nominee for the 2024 presidential election.
Meanwhile, Harris has been actively preparing for her role as the Democratic nominee. She is set to embark on a bus tour starting in Savannah, Georgia, and will participate in her first major televised interview since becoming the nominee, scheduled to air on CNN on Thursday.
The vice president's favorability ratings have reportedly improved since Biden's withdrawal from the race, and polls indicate a tightening contest between Harris and former President Donald Trump.
Conclusion
President Biden's extended beach vacation in Delaware has drawn attention, given his earlier commitment to finish his term strong. His absence from the White House has lasted nearly 10 days, following appearances at the Democratic National Convention and a stay at a donor's estate in California.
While Biden remains out of the public eye, Vice President Harris is ramping up her campaign activities as the Democratic nominee for the 2024 presidential election. The president is scheduled to join Harris for a campaign event in Pittsburgh on Labor Day, marking their first joint appearance since the nomination change.